Automatic container filler



Dec. 28, 1954 BRONK 2,698,156

AUTOMATIC CONTAINER FILLER Filed May 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V ENTOR. F4) 5. spam/r I115 ATTORAZEY Dec. 28, 1954 F. E. BRONK AUTOMATICCONTAINER FILLER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1951 INVENTOR.

FAY E. BRONK "/5 ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1954 F. E. BRONK 6 AUTOMATICCONTAINER FILLER Filed May 24, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR. FA) 5.BRONX HIS ATTORNEY United States Patent AUTOMATIC CONTAINER FILLER FayE. Brook, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Ritter Company, Inc., Rochester,'N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 24, 1951, Serial No.228,099

Claims. Cl. 249-58) This invention rel-ates to automatic fountaindevices for filling removable containers, such .as a drinking glass,with water or other liquid and more particularly to devices adapted toform a part of an article of furniture,

, or equipment, as for example, a dental equipment stand,

one object of the invention being to provide a fully automatic and moresimple and efficient device of the above character for controlling asupply of water to fill a drinking glass or other container.

Another object is the provision of such a device having a more sensitivevalve actuating mechanism specially adapted for responding in anaccurate and reliable manner to a relative small force such as theWeight of a drinking glass.

A further object is to provide a device of the nature described, capableof operation without any unsightly dripping or spilling of the water.

Still a further object is to provide a device capable of operating asdescribed above without requiring use of a special anti-drip dischargenozzle.

To these and other ends the invention resides in cer- Fig. 3 is anenlarged, fragmentary, sectional elevation substantially along line 3--3in Fig. 2 and shows the positions of the valve and the valve actuatingmechanism when the container is removed;

Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3, but shows the positlons of the operatingparts whenan empty container is in position for filling;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but further enlarged to more clearlyshow the position of the valve actuating mechanism when the container isremoved;

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 5, but shows the position of the valveactuating mechanism when the container supported thereon is filled, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view substantially along lme 7-7 in Fig. 6.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, herein disclosed by way ofillustration, shows it as applied for use with a tumbler or drinkingglass carried by an article of furniture such as a medical or dentalequipment stand. Referring more particularly to the drawings, 21(Fig. 1) shows generally a housing for supporting a drinking glass 23(shown by broken lines in Fig. l) and for enclosing ail-automaticfilling mechanism therefor embodying the present invention. I 1

Housing 21 comprises, preferably, a bottom portion 25 from which riseside walls 27. Housing 21 has at the opposite ends thereof, projectingportions 29 and 31 (Figs. 1 and 2) by means of which the housing may bereadily fastened by bolts or other suitable means to a dental equipmentstand.

Drinking glass 23 is adapted to be placed on a circular support plate 33which is located in the forward or right-hand end of housing 21, asviewed in Figs. l and 2, and which forms the forward end of a supportlever 35. Lever 35 is pivoted adjacent its other end, as by means of apintle 37 mounted at its ends in the side walls of housing 21. Lever35is connected adjacent the left end thereof, by means to be hereaftermore fully described, to a valve 39 (Figs. .3 and 4) which controls theflow of fluid through a discharge pipe 41 (Fig. 1) into a tumbler orother container when said tumbler .is placed in position on the circularend of support lever 35. The mechanism for connecting support lever 35to valve 39 is so constructed that when an empty tumbler or othercontainer is placed on the right end of support lever 35, the

weight of the empty container moves said lever to an intermediateposition at which'point valve 39 is opened. As the container becomesfilled, lever .35 is moved downwardly until it strikes against a stop.The above automatic valve mechanism closes valve 39, thereby shuttingoff the flow of fluid to the container just as support lever 35 reachesits lowermost position. When the filled container or tumble-r is removedfrom support lever 35, said lever is moved upwardly to its initialposition, as shown in Fig. l, by a compression spring 43 (Fig. 1) duringwhich movement valve 39 is held in its closed position by the aboveactuating mechanism, thereby eliminating unsightly dripping fromdischarge pipe 41.

Tumbler support 33 is preferably in the shape of a circular plate andhas moisture collecting grooves 45 and drain holes 47 formed therein.Housing 21 is pro vided with a drain vent 49 (Figs. 1 and 2) to which isattached a suitable drain pipe, not shown. Support lever 35 is movedupwardly by coil spring 43, the lower end of which bears against housingbottom 25 while the upper end engages an adjusting screw 51 (.Fig. "71)mounted on lever 35. A vertically extending bolt53 fastened to housing21, as shown in Fig. 1, serves as a gtgp for limiting downward movementof support lever A valve housing shown generally at 55 (Fig. 1) isfastened to bottom 25 adjacent the left end thereof by bolts or othersuitable means, not shown. Valve housing 55 has a longitudinallyextending bore 57 (Fig. 3) for the reception of a vertically extendingvalve stem 59. Bore 57 is slightly greater than the diameter of valvestem 59 and is counterbored at the upper and lower ends thereof forforming outlet and inlet chambers 61 and 63, respectively. inlet andoutlet chambers 63 and 61 are separated by a Web portion 65 the lowersurfiace of which forms a valve seat 67 which is adapted to be engagedby the upper surface of valve member 39 on valve stem 59, as shown inFig. 3. Valve 39 is held in posi* tion on the stem by a threaded plunger69 which slides in a bore in a plug 71 screwed into the bottom of theinlet chamber As valve 39 moves towards and away from valve seat 67,plunger 69 reciprocates loosely in said bore in plug 71 and serves toguide and cushion the action of the valve stem thereby removing anytendency of the valve to squeal or chatter during the operation of thetumbler filler. Inlet chamber 63 is preferably connected by a passageway73 (Fig. 3) to suitable warm' and cold water supply lines (not shown)which in the present instance may be connected to the opposite ends ofinlet T 75 (Fig. 2).

The upper end of outlet chamber 61 is preferably sealed by a flexiblediaphragm 77 (Figs. 3 and 4) of natural or synthetic rubber material,such as that which is available under the trade-mark Hycar, or otherknown and suitable material. Diaphragm 77 'is held in position against ashoulder formed in outlet chamber 61 by a collar or. plug 79 whichthreadedly engages an enlargement of the upper end of output chamber 61,as shown in Fig. 3. A washer 81 (Fig. 3) is inserted be{ tween the lowerend of plug 79 and the upper surface of diaphragm 77 to insure propersealing and protect'th'c diaphragm as the plug is tightened into place.Dia phragm 77 is attached to valve stem 59 by nuts 83 (Figs. 3 and 4)and is adapted to flex vertically asthe valve stem reciprocates. Smallwashers 85 (Fig. 3) are placed on opposite sides of the diaphragm toinsure a proper seal around valve stem 59 and to prevent nuts 83 fromtearing the diaphragm as they are tightened into position, Thisconstruction effectively seals outlet chamber 61; against leakage whileat the same time it presents a.mini-. mum of resistance to the verticalreciprocation of valve stem 59.

Outlet chamber 61 is preferably connected by a passageway 87 (Figs. 3and 4) to a suitable fitting 89 (Fig. 2) to which is connected the lowerend of discharge pipe 41. Pipe 41, as shown in Fig. 1, extends upwardlyand forwardly so that the opposite end thereof is in position tooverhang a drinking glass 23 or the like resting on the right end ofsupport lever 35. Outlet chamber 61 is connected to inlet chamber 63 bybore 57 in web 65 so that when valve 39 is moved downwardly, by means tobe hereafter described, the water may flow from inlet chamber 63 intooutlet chamber 61 and through discharge pipe 41 to the containerpositioned on support lever 35.

The means for transmitting the pivotal movement of support lever 35 tovalve stem 59 for reciprocating valve 39 comprise, preferably, a nut 91(Figs. 3-6) adjustably threaded on valve stem 59 adjacent its upper endand an upwardly extending, U-shaped, link member 93, of spring metal,which is secured at the lower center portion thereof to nut 91, as shownin Figs. 3-6. Member 93 has a curved notch 95 (Figs. 5 and 6) formedadjacent the upper ends thereof for engagement with a pair of opposedU-shaped links 97. Links 97 are pivotally mounted on support member 35,as shown in Figs. 3-7, and as hereafter described, transmit the movementof the support member 35 to valve stem 59 and valve 39. The downwardmovement of valve stem 59 is limited by a collar 99 (Figs. 3-6) which isadjustably threaded to the valve stem and which, asthe valve stem movesdownwardly from its position shown in Fig. 3, to its position shown inFig. 4, strikes against the upper end of a vertically extending sleeve101 loosely surrounding stem 59 and secured to housing bottom 25. Collar99 is located below nut 91 and is provided with a lock nut 103 forsecuring it in adjusted position. Valve stem 59 passes loosely throughan elongated, slot-like opening 104 in lever 35 and a tapered nut 105,adjustably threaded on the upper end of valve stem 59, is adapted to beengaged by support lever 35 when in its uppermost position for limitingthe upward movement of support lever 35 and for holding valve 39 in itsuppermost, or closed position. A lock nut 107 holds nut 105 in adjustedposition.

It is to be noted that when support lever 35 is in its uppermostposition, as shown in Fig. 3, valve stem 59 is held in its uppermostposition by the engagement between nut 105 and the sides of the openingin [ever 35, and links 97 which connect said support lever to valve stem59 have their inner, or free ends lower than the outer ends thereof. Tostart the cycle of operation it is only necessary to place an emptycontainer on the free end of support lever 35. As said lever movesdownwardly under the weight of the empty container thereon, links 97transmit this downward movement to valve stem 59, thereby opening valve39. Valve stem 59 moves downwardly until collar 99 engages the upper endof sleeve 101, as shown in Fig. 4, at which point it is in its lowermostposition and valve 39 is fully opened, thereby allowing water to rapidlyfill the container. This flow of liquid into the container increases theweight on support lever 35 and causes the lever to continue to movedownwardly against the tension of spring 43. However, valve stem 59 canno longer move downwardly, because of the engagement between collar 99and sleeve 101, and as a result, there is a relative movement betweenlever 35 and valve stem 59 which brings links 97 into a horizontal orcentered position, through resilient yielding of link member 93. Aslever 35 continues downwardly, links 97 snap past their center positionand the free ends thereof slant upwardly, as in Fig. 6. This movement oflinks 97 moves valve stem 59 upwardly bringing valve 39 into engagementwith seat 67 and shutting off the flow of liquid to the container ,ortumbler on lever 35. Collar 99, spring 43 and stop 53 are preferablyadjusted so that this valve closing action occurs when the desiredamount of fluid has passed into the container, and support lever 35 iseither in engagement with, or is about to engage, stop 53.

When the container is removed from support lever 35, spring 43 quicklymoves the lever to its uppermost position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.During the first part of this return movement, links 97 which slantupwardly, as shown in Fig. 6, push upwardly against spring link 93 andthereby hold valve 39 closed. As lever 35 continues upwardly, links 97snap past their center position, and slant downwardly toward the valvestem, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. However, it is to be noted that becauselink 93 and continue to hold valve 39 closed. As a result of this actionplus the pressure of the water under valve 39, said valve remains closedthroughout the return movement of tumbler support lever 35. Lever 35moves upwardly under the action of spring 43 until it strikes againstnut 105 on the upper end of valve stem 59. At this point spring 43 actsthrough lever 35 and valve stem 59 to hold valve 39 in its uppermost orclosed position, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, there is no unsightlydripping or spurting of water from discharge pipe 41, nor is itnecessary to provide a special siphon head on pipe 41, which has beencommonly necessary with tumbler fillers of known construction in whichthe valve is momentarily opened after the filled container is removedand as the parts are returning to their initial positions.

Thus, it will be seen that the above invention provides a fullyautomatic tumbler or container filler, the operating mechanism of whichis so arranged and constructed that it multiplies the limited forceexerted by a container and the contents thereof to provide sufiicientforce for insuring positive and accurate operation of the mechanism andvalve. In addition, the device is easily adjusted for containers ofvarying weights and for varying the amount of liquid delivered per cycleof operation. The screw 51 for regulating the action of spring 43 andthe nut 105 for limiting the upward movement of support lever relativeto valve stem 59 are both readily accessible from the top of thehousing. Housing 21 is preferably provided with a port 109 (Fig. 1)through which collar 99 and nut 91 may be readily adjusted for furthercontrolling the action of the filling mechanism.

In addition, the device is provided with a single valve and seat whichare held in sealing engagement throughout the return of the operatingparts to their normal positions, and as a result, the device operateswithout any dripping or spilling of water and without requiring aspecial siphon or other type of anti-drip nozzle on the upper end ofdischarge pipe 41.

It will thus be seen that the invention accomplishes its objects andwhile it has been herein disclosed by reference to the details of apreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that such disclosure isintended in an illustrative, rather than a limiting sense, as it iscontemplated that various modifications in the construction andarrangement of the parts will readily occur to those skilled in the art,within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An automatic container filler comprising a housing, a containersupport member pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on saidhousing, a fluid supply line for filling a container on said supportmember, a valve in said line, a member connected to and movable withsaid 3 valve, link means on one of said members, resilient means on theother of said members engaged by said link means, said link means andresilient means being moved in substantially the same direction by saidsupport member to open said valve as said support member is moved to anintermediate position by the weight of a container thereon, saidresilient means being moved in a second direction by said link means assaid support member is moved downwardly by the weight of a filledcontainer thereon, said resilient means moving in a direction oppositesaid second direction for swinging said link means in a directionopposite the first direction of movement thereof for moving said valveto its initial closed position as said support member is moved to itslowermost position by the weight of a filled container thereon,resilient means for returning said support member to its initialposition upon the removal of the container therefrom, and means engagedby said support member during its return movement to initial positionfor maintaining said valve in closed position.

2. An automatic container filler comprising a housing, a containersupport member pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on saidhousing, a fluid supply line for filling a container on said supportmember, a valve in said line, a member connected to and movable withsaid valve, opposed links pivotally mounted on one of said members,resilient means on the other of said members engaged by said links, theinner ends of said links-slanting downwardly towards each other in theinitial, uppermost position of said support member, said links andresilient means being moved downwardly in said position by said supportmember to open said valve as said support member is moved to anintermediate position by the weight of a container thereon, saidresilient means being moved in one direction by said links as saidsupport member is moved downwardly by the weight of a filled containerthereon, said resilient means moving in the opposite direction forswinging the inner ends of said links upwardly for moving said valveupwardly to its closed position as said support member moves to itslowermost position under the weight of a filled container thereon,resilient means for returning said support member to its initialposition upon the removal of the container therefrom, and means engagedby said support member during its return movement to initial positionfor maintaining said valve in closed position.

3. An automatic container filler comprising a housing, a containersupport member pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on saidhousing, a fluid supply line for filling a container on said supportmember, a valve in said line, a member connected to and movable withsaid valve,

link means on one of said members, a U-shaped resilient means on heother of said members engaged by said link means, said link means andresilient means being moved downwardly by said support member for movingsaid other member downwardly to open said valve as said support memberis moved to an intermediate position by the weight of a containerthereon, said resilient means being moved in one direction by said linkmeans as said support member is moved downwardly by the weight of afilled container thereon, said resilient means moving in the oppositedirection for swinging said link means upwardly for moving said othermember upwardly to move said valve to its initial closed position assaid support member is moved to its lowermost position by the weight ofa filled contaner thereon, resilient means for returning said supportmember to its initial position upon the removal of the containertherefrom, and means engaged by said support member during its returnmovement to initial position for maintaining said valve in closedposition.

4. An automatic container filler comprising a housing, a containersupport pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on said housing, afluid supply line for filling a container on said support, a valve insaid line, a valve stem connected to and movable with said valve, a pairof opposed links pivotally mounted adjacent one end thereof on saidcontainer support, resilient means on said valve stem engaged by saidlinks, the inner ends of said links slanting downwardly towards eachother in the initial, uppermost position of said container support, saidlinks and resilient means being moved downwardly in said position bysaid container support to open said valve as said support is moved to anintermediate position by the weight of a container thereon, saidresilient means being moved in one direction by said links as saidsupport member is moved downwardly by the weight of a filled containerthereon, said resilient means moving in the opposite direction forswinging the inner ends of said links upwardly to move said resilientmeans and said valve stem upwardly for moving said valve upwardly to itsinitial closed position as said support member moves to its lowermostposition under the weight of a filled container thereon, resilient meansfor returning said support member to its initial position upon theremoval of the container therefrom, and means engaged by said supportmember during its return movement to initial position for maintainingsaid valve in closed position.

5. An automatic container filler comprising a housing, a containersupport member, a fluid supply line for filling a container on saidsupport member, a valve housing connected to said supply line and havinginlet and outlet chambers, a single valve in one of said chambers forcontrolling the fiow from said inlet chamber through said outlet chamberto a container on said support, an elongated member connected to andmovable with said valve, said member extending from said inlet chamberoutwardly through said outlet chamber, a sealing means at the outer endof said outlet chamber comprising a flexible diaphragm attached to andmovable with said elongated member, link means on one of said members,resilient means on the other of said members engaged by said link means,said link means and resilient means being moved in substantially thesame direction by said support member to open said valve as said supportmember is moved to an intermediate position by the weight of a containerthereon, said resilient means being moved in a second direction by saidlink means as said support member is moved downwardly by the weight of afilled container thereon, said resilient means moving in a directionopposite said second direction for swinging said link means in adirection opposite the first direction of movement thereof for movingsaid valve to its initial closed position as said support member ismoved to its lowermost position by the weight of a filled containerthereon,

resilient means returning said support member to its initial positionupon the removal of the container therefrom, and means engaged by saidsupport member during its return movement to initial position formaintaining said valve in closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,421,926 Elder July 4, 1922 1,915,739 Johnson June 27, 19332,198,309 James Apr. 23, 1940 2,200,602 Harriman May 14, 1940 2,278,655James Apr. 7, 1942 2,395,674 Lauterbach Feb. 26, 1946

